Shockwaves in Patna: A Family Blame Game Goes Public
A stunning political and personal implosion has rocked Bihar’s most powerful political dynasty. In the aftermath of the Rashtriya Janata Dal’s (RJD) humiliating defeat in the state assembly elections, the Yadav family—long the backbone of the party—has spiraled into a bitter and highly public meltdown. The crisis hit its peak during an explosive internal review meeting, culminating in accusations, insults, and the dramatic political exit of Lalu Prasad Yadav’s daughter, Rohini Acharya—laying bare the deep fractures undermining the party’s future.
Origins of the Rift: Crushing Defeat and Soaring Frustrations
The RJD’s electoral collapse—dropping from a commanding 75 seats to a mere 25 in the 243-member assembly—sent shockwaves through the party’s core leadership. Inside the family, anger simmered. Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi were reportedly furious with the campaign’s strategic missteps and blamed Tejashwi Yadav’s tight circle of advisers for mismanaging the election narrative.
Rohini Acharya, a respected public figure known for donating a kidney to her father and campaigning tirelessly for the RJD, found herself blindsided. Accused by some factions of contributing to the party’s downfall, she expressed deep dismay at being treated as a convenient scapegoat.
The Flashpoint: Slippers, Shouting, and Shattered Bonds
The breaking point came during a closed-door review meeting meant to diagnose the party’s electoral failures. Instead, it devolved into a dramatic confrontation. According to insiders, Tejashwi Yadav erupted at his elder sister, seething: “We lost the election because of you. We are cursed by you,” before hurling a slipper in her direction and unleashing a barrage of verbal attacks.
Shocked and humiliated, Rohini accused Tejashwi’s trusted aides—Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Yadav and long-time confidant Rameez Nemat Khan—of engineering her isolation within the party. She alleged that the duo had manipulated internal dynamics to side-line her and consolidate power around Tejashwi’s inner circle. The exchange left the room stunned and the family’s already fragile unity shattered.
The Fallout: Rohini Walks Away, RJD Faces a Void
Reeling from the confrontation, Rohini announced an abrupt end to her political career and, more shockingly, to her ties with the Yadav family. In a cryptic yet pointed social media post, she named Sanjay Yadav and Rameez as the architects of her political ouster while saying she would “take all the blame” for the defeat.
Rabri Devi attempted late-hour reconciliation, but the damage was irreversible. Rohini left for Delhi the following evening, her departure casting a long shadow over the party’s stability. Her exit exposes a leadership vacuum within the RJD at a time when the party is already battling declining influence and messaging confusion.
Political Consequences: A Party in Peril
The timing of this eruption could not be worse for the RJD. Still reeling from electoral defeat, the party now faces a credibility crisis among its supporters. The feud has amplified concerns about Tejashwi Yadav’s leadership approach, particularly the sway held by his unelected advisers. With public perception shifting and internal cohesion crumbling, the party’s future electoral prospects—and even its role as Bihar’s main opposition—stand at risk.
A Dynasty at a Dangerous Crossroads
The Yadav family’s implosion underscores how personal conflict, unchecked ego, and poor crisis management can destabilize even the most storied political households. What began as an electoral setback has spiraled into a full-blown dynastic rupture—one that may reshape Bihar’s political landscape for years to come.
(With agency inputs)
